Light indicator for headlights



Feb. 2s, 1935; M H. MELLEN 1,992,231

LIGHT INDICATOR FR HEADLIGHTS Filed Jan. '7, 1933` satelites ret. ze,193s man'rmmea'roa ronmsnucmrs Mortimer n, treuen, catastale, MasaiMater lL. Mellen enecutrix oi? said Mortimer H. Mellen, f

deceased applicaties .imam v rees, serial No. estese This inventionrelates to a novel and improved' g the headlamp is lighted.

The invention will best be understood by reierence to the followingdescription, when taken in connection with the accompanying drawing oione specic embodiment thereof, while its scope will be pointed out moreparticularly in the appended claims.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a plan of an indicator embodying the invention; f i

Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the same; and

Fig. 3 is avertical, sectional view, online 3-3 of Fig. 2, of theindicator applied to a headlamp.

Referring to thel drawing, and to the embodiment of -the inventionselected for illustration, there ,is own in Fig. 3 a portion of aheadlamp 5 of known construction, comprising a housing or shell 6',which houses a reector 'l withwhich there isassociated a light source,such as an incandescent Y lamp bulb not, shown. A bezel 8,

l suitably secured to the shell is provided with an inwardly-directed,annular flange 9, which holds a lens 10 against aggasket 11, which inturn is seated in an annular groove 12 presented by the reflector. Thelens presents at the front an annular shoulder 13 close to the ilange 9.It is deemed unnecessary to describe the lamp in further detail, aslamps differ somewhat in construction, especially in respect to themeans for fastening the bezel to the shell.

The indicator, as shown, comprises an arcuate member 14, having anarcuate iiange 15 for insertion between the lens and the bezel, and anarcuate ange 16, transversely disposed with relation to the flange 15,and projecting forwardly from the lens and the bezel. The juncture of-the two ilanges rests against the shoulder 13 oi.' the lens, and thearcuate member is thus interlocked with the bezel and the lens, and isprevented from slipping out of its place.

The forwardly-directed flange 16 is provided with an opening 17, hereingenerally circular, which receives a housing 18, herein dome-shaped, orbulb-shaped, the same being conveniently held in place in the opening,as by being provided with a bead 19 above the-opening, and anoutwardlydirected ilange 20 below the opening. The housing`18 isinserted from above, and the ange 20 formed afterward. While the ange 20maybe squeezed ilrmly enough against' the ange 16 to pinch the latterbetween the bead 19 and, the

rays. rearwardly through said exit aperture.

ange' 20 to prevent the housing 18 from t about its vertical axis. in`the present example, the opening 17, though generally circular, isprovided with a flat portion, as at 21, and the housing 18 is similarlyshaped at the'same point.

y Light rays emanating from the lamp upwardly through the opening 17into the interior of the vhousing '18 are emitted through'arearwardlydirected opening 22 toward the operator. To assist in thetransmission oi the light rays in the form shown, the indicatorcomprises. a lighttransmitting element, herein conveniently in the formof a. hollow, dome-shaped glass body 23, which if desired maybercolored, and its externalform is -such that it closely fits theinternal surface of the housing 18. The body 23 is conveniently held inplace by Aa resilient split ring 2e, which is received in anannulargroove 25` presented by the bead 19. This ring fits snugly against thelower edge of the body, and holds the latter firmly in place.

The indicator may easily be applied to various standard lamps, and evenif there is a variation in the diameters of the lamps, .the arcuate'body 14, being of rather thin, bendable metal, can be bent to variousarcs within reasonable limits.

The forwardly-directed ange 16, in addition to affording a support forthe housing 18 and body 23, constitutes also a vizor which limits upwarddispersion of the light rays in aiorwa'rd direction. A sufiicientfamount of light passes: into the body 23, and is transmitted rearwardlyto enable the operator, when in the usual driving position, to seewhether or not the headlamp is lighted. A small glowing spot of lightwill show at the opening\22, at a point somewhat top of the lamp.

Having thus described one embodiment of the invention, but withoutlimiting myself thereto, what I claim and desire by Letters Patent tosecure is: K

1. In a light indicator for headlamps, the combination of a memberhaving attaching means for attachment to a headlamp, and a horizontallyand forwardly-directed arcuate iiange provided with an entrance opening'in a. horizontal plane, a housing supported'by and above the an'ge andhaving its interior communicating with said opening, said housing havingan exit aperture directed rearwardly toward said attaching means, and alight-transmitting element received within said housing between saidopening and said aperture, receiving light rays directly from thehead-lamp and transmitting the light above the 2. In a light indicatorfor headlamps, the combination of a member having attaching means forattachment tothe bezel of a headlamp, an arcuate ange provided with anopening, a

5 housing supported byv said ilange and having its 'receive light raysfrom a lamp, a second opening to emit the light rays, said housing beingprovided with projections at opposite sides, respectively, of saidmember to retain said housing in placel in said opening, one' of saidprojections being a hollow beadl presenting an armular groove, Aalight-transmitting body within said housing and extending across saidsecond opening, and a retaining ring seated in said groove to retainsaid body in place.

4. In a light indicator for attachment to the front of a headlamp, thecombination of attaching means ior attachment to a headlamp, a web toextend forwardly from the headlamp, said web being provided with anopening to face inwardly toward the optical axis of the headlamp, abell-shaped housing having a portion extending throughv said opening andattached to said web, said housing constituting a chamber provided witha rearwardly directed light exit opening, and a tapered lighttransmitting element in contact with the interior of said housing and toserve to transmit light rays rearwardly through said light exit opening.Y

5.\In a light indicator for attachment/to the front of a headlamp, thecombination of attaching means for attachment to a headlamp, a web toextend forwardly from the headlamp, said web being provided with anopening to face inwardly toward the optical axis of the headlamp,

a dome-shaped housing having a portion extending through said openingand secured to said web,

said housing constituting a chamber providedwith a rearwardly directedlight exit opening, a dome-shaped light transmitting element in saidhousing to transmit light rays rearwardly through said light exitopening, and means. adjacent the inner end of said housing to hold saidlight transmitting element in contact with the tached to said web and'constituting a chambery provided with a rearwardly directed light exitopening, and a generally conical light transmitting element in contactwith the interior of said housing and to serve to transmit light rays 7.In a light indicator for attachment to the front of a headlamp, thecombination of attaching means for attachment to a headlamp, a web toextend forwardly from the headlamp, said web being provided with anopening in a hori- `zontal planeto receive light rays directed upwardlyand forwardly from the front opening of theA headlamp, a housing abovesaid web and constituting a chamber having upwardly converging sides andcommunicating with the space below said opening, said housinghaving arearwardly directed exit aperture, and a light-transmitting elementhaving outwardly converging sides in contact with the interior of saidchamber and transmitting the light rays to the rearV of said aperture.

MOR'I'IMER H. MELLEN.

